The Good Samaritan
There are some stories that come up in every children’s Sunday school class. One is the story of the Good Samaritan.
A Jewish traveler was beaten by robbers and left by the side of the road. Both a priest and a Levite walk by. Both ignore the traveler. The Bible even says they “pass by on the other side.” They didn’t want to be near him. But the best part of the story is when the Samaritan saves the day.
What your Sunday School teacher may not have said was that Samaritans and Jews did not get along. Of all of the people who pass by, the Samaritan man was the one least likely to stop and help. But he did.
This Samaritan man stopped, looked, and did something. He gave his time, his money, and even potentially his reputation. He did all of this to help a stranger who was in need.
When Jesus told this story, he asked those who were listening, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” When they said, “The Samaritan,” Jesus responded, “You go, and do likewise.”
It’s not just a story to Jesus, and it shouldn’t be to us either. Our calling as Christ followers is to help those in need, whoever they are and however they need us.
When we take this story and put it into action, our neighbors will see God’s love shining through us and want to know more about the God we serve, and the Savior we love.
“Our calling as Christ followers is to help those in need, whoever they are and however they need us.”
Luke 10:37
“He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.””